Canadian flag causes flap.Maple Leaf on baggage irks 'sensitive' Americans

[Screaming Lord Byron]

http://www.canada.com/national/story.asp?id=D333BE79-44EE-407B-B960-BF1FA49CAE39

God knows what to make of this.

OTTAWA -- Canadians should be careful not to appear "boastful" to Americans, who are insecure because of the war in Iraq and admit they are annoyed by northerners showing off the red maple leaf on their luggage when they travel, a recent federal report warns.

In focus groups held this fall in four U.S. cities where the federal government is opening consulates, Americans acknowledged they don't know much about Canadians.

"Some participants expressed a certain amount of annoyance at what is perceived as a systematic attempt by Canadians to make the statement that they are not Americans by sporting the maple leaf," said the recently released report. "This underscores the American sensitivity at feeling rejected by the rest of the world ...."